Sanitising black water by auto-thermal aerobic digestion (ATAD) combined with ammonia treatment

The effect of a two-step process on the concentration of pathogens and indicator microorganisms in black water (0.9–1% total solids) was studied. The treatment combined auto-thermal aerobic digestion (ATAD) and ammonia sanitisation. First, the temperature of the black water was increased through ATAD and when a targeted temperature was reached (33, 41 and 45.5 °C studied), urea was added to a 0.5% concentration (total ammonia nitrogen >2.9 g L⁻¹). Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. were reduced to non-detectable levels within 3 days following urea addition at temperatures above 40 °C, whereas when urea was added at 33 °C E. coli was still present after 8 days. By adding urea at temperatures of 40 °C and above, a 5 log₁₀ reduction in Enterococcus spp. and a 3 log₁₀ reduction in Ascaris suum eggs was achieved 1 week after the addition. With combined ATAD and ammonia treatment using 0.5% ww urea added at an aerobic digestion temperature >40 °C, black water was sanitised regarding the pathogens studied in 2 weeks of total treatment time.